Being a photographer can open your eyes to the wonderful details in life that others pass by every day without really seeing. Taking photos can expose you to new ideas, concepts, places, animals, people, and nature.
The urge to take your camera and explore the far corners of the world is very compelling. So, how can you do this in a responsible way, without incurring foreign transaction fees or spending all of your money on travel and accommodation? We will explore some money-saving travel tips and tricks, and suggest some of the best places to travel with your camera.
How To Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees
When you are traveling and using your debit card overseas, you end up with a lot of fees for monetary transactions in different currencies. These can add up while you travel and leave you with an unwanted and unnecessary big additional cost. A great way to avoid that is to get a Wise card from the Wise (formerly Transferwise) app. This is a debit card that is linked to a Wise multi-currency account that is designed for making withdrawals and purchases at home, online, and abroad.
You can get a Wise card very easily, provided you are a citizen of the UK, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, the US, Brazil, or most countries in the European Economic Area. Double-check your eligibility on the Wise website if you are unsure if you can apply.
If you are from one of the above countries, you can set up a Wise account in minutes on your phone or laptop, add some funds and apply for the card through the app. Once the card arrives, you simply activate it with a pin and you are ready to travel.
Spending Less on Travel and Accommodation
There are several ways you can travel on a budget and still have a great time. These include taking free walking tours, cooking some of your own meals, and avoiding expensive restaurants.
Moreover, if you are willing and able, being flexible about time and destination is a great way to find cheap flights. Even if you have your heart set on a location, being able and willing to travel out of season could save you significant costs on travel and accommodation.
Another great tip is to ensure that you do your research about local costs so that you know roughly how much a taxi, hotel, and meal should cost. Once you have arrived, try to avoid the tourist spots, such as the main squares and busy shopping streets when you are looking for food.
As a photographer in search of a unique and stunning photo, this should be easy, as you want to explore off the beaten path and find your special photo.
Best Places To Travel For Unique Photographs
When it comes to stunning views, steep cliffs, blue fjords, and adorable little wooden houses, you would be hard-pressed to find a more idyllic place than Norway. You can hike up a glacier and capture a truly breathtaking view out across the ice-capped mountains, take a boat trip into a fjord and spot marine life in the blue waters, or hike into the woods and enjoy the tranquility of the quiet countryside.
Another country known for its natural assets and wild beauty is Scotland, and this is one of the best countries to get stunning photographs. Scotland’s cities boast plenty of picturesque spots, but it is the highlands and islands that really pose the most exciting possibilities for unique pictures. Get that close-up of a highland cow that you have always wanted, visit the land where
Outlander is set, and hike the steep mountains, grassy landscapes, and rugged rocks of this still wild and beautiful landscape.
Finally, any travel photographer will find their ideal environment for photography in the massive and rich land of Canada. Whether you prefer to photograph nature, cities, rural towns, people, animals, sea life, or night skies, Canada has it all. Looking for sun and lakes? Mountains and snow? Skyscrapers and busy boulevards, or bungalows and fields? You can’t go wrong in this vast and incredible country.
Hopefully, this guide to visiting amazing destinations as a travel photographer has taught you some useful ways to save money and avoid foreign transaction fees. Getting a debit card with no foreign transaction fees and knowing how to plan your travel and accommodation on a budget can make all the difference. Taking these simple steps will enable you to travel further, for longer, and more often, as you will have a bigger budget to play with. So, get your camera ready and have a great time in Norway, Scotland, and Canada!